- Read this story and all of its chapters in paragraph format with better editing, here:
- http://www.fimfiction.net/story/129684/the-trials
- This version of the story is heavily unedited.
- ----------
- >"And you said this leads to the room with the statues?" Mosina asked, pointing to an unfinished fork on her crude map.
- >"Yep," Night Watch confirmed.
- >The three of them sat in a circle by the lake shore, Echo and Night Watch helping Mosina map what they had so far.
- >Mosina adjusted her glasses as she finished her drawing, satisfied with her uneven circle that represented the statue room.
- >A larger circle on the map had some wavy lines inside of it, representing the lake room.
- >Barring the two lines that led from the room at opposite sides, two more stubby lines protruted from its sides.
- >"These are paths we have yet to take," Mosina said.
- >She drew a small plus sign next to one of the stubby lines.
- >"This one is at the end of the bridge there," she said, pointing to the stone bridge in the middle of the lake.
- >"It's a higher elevated entrance."
- >The bridge led from the shore of the lake to a large ledge near the top of the room.
- >An entrance to a tunnel sat against the wall where the bridge ended.
- "Right. Think we can move on, then?" Echo asked the group.
- >Night watch hummed in answer, nodding her head.
- >"Yeah, I'm ready," Mosina said. "Let's take the lower tunnel, first."
- "Sure."
- >Mosina rolled up the map and stuffed it into her saddlebags.
- >After gathering up the rest of their things, the trio started to trot along the lake shore, towards the indicated cave entrance.
- >"So, that's three of us," Night Watch said while they walked.
- >"Yeah. I hope the other three are alright," Mosina remarked.
- "That's what we said about you, too," Echo said, smiling at her. "Glad you did turn out okay."
- ---
- >"Hey, I may be bookish, but that doesn't mean I can't hold my own." Mosina chuckled.
- >"They say nerds are the horniest," Night Watch said, winking to her.
- >Mosina huffed, blushing.
- >"Says you."
- >They came to the entrance to the tunnel, forming into a single file line to fit through the narrow cavity.
- >It became dark again, since the blue crystals that lit up the lake room didn't seem to follow through the tunnel.
- >Echo took the lead and Night Watch brought up the rear, both of them bearing light crystals.
- >"How do those work?" Mosina asked. "How do you summon those guardians?"
- >Echo paused.
- "I'm not sure, actually. It kind of just came out when needed," she said.
- >The cave walls and floor were relatively dry, as the tunnel had an uphill angle.
- >Stalagmites and stalactites were seemingly void, since no water seemed to drip from the ceiling.
- "Not much we can do about it, I guess. Just hope we can use it during the right time."
- >The trio walked silently for what seemed like an hour, until the narrow tunnel finally widened enough for them to walk side by side.
- >Suddenly, as they advanced through the darkness, something large embedded into the wall to the right revealed itself.
- >It was as though a circular hole was carved out of the wall, and a giant circular stone slab was put in place.
- >"Is that... a door?" Night Watch asked.
- >"I don't know," Mosina said, approaching it.
- >Echo hung back, eyeing three holes carved into its surface.
- >Each of the holes were different shapes.
- >Mosina gently placed a hoof on it, and when it didn't budge, she gave a little push.
- >"It's sealed tight, if it is a door," she said.
- "Those holes..." Echo said, coming up beside Mosina. "Hold on."
- ---
- >She unbuckled the straps to her right saddlebag and fished out her triangular prism.
- >Mosina's eyes widened when she saw it.
- "Maybe this will..." Echo trailed off, lifting the wooden object and placing it over a hole shaped like a triangle.
- >Sure enough, it slipped inside easily.
- >She pushed it the entire way, until the end of the prism leveled with the surface of the stone.
- >Echo shuddered, noticing the disturbing, cringing face that was carved into the prism's surface.
- >A loud clinking sound echoed through the tunnel around them, causing the bat ponies to step back.
- >But after a moment of silence, they relaxed.
- >"Interesting. That was a key, huh?" Mosina asked.
- "Yeah. Night Watch has one, too," Echo said.
- >Two more holes were embedded into the wall, one shaped as a square and another as a circle.
- >"Let me get it," Night Watch said, going into her own saddlebags and pulling it out.
- >"Such a shame. I wish I had the circular one," she said, winking at Mosina, who shuddered and grimaced.
- >She lifted her square prism and fit it into the appropriate slot in the wall.
- >As it settled into its place flawlessly, the door emitted another loud clank.
- "I guess that means we need the third key, then," Echo said, a little disappointed.
- >"Bleh, I hate that," Night said.
- >"Well, nothing to do now but move on. I'll mark this on the map later, when we have the time," Mosina said.
- >Giving one last glance to the presumed door, the trio made off into the darkness.
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